Mathematicians Of The Day

19th February



On this day in 1672, Newton's first publication appeared as a letter in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. It dealt with his new theory of light, showing that a prism separates white light into its component colours. Huygens, Hooke, and others objected so strongly that he vowed not to publish again. Fortunately that vow was not kept.

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Quotation of the day

From Nicolaus Copernicus
Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe. All this is suggested by the systematic procession of events and the harmony of the whole Universe, if only we face the facts, as they say, 'with both eyes open'.